Names Hot in Hollywood…but nowhere else!

There are some names that we’ve become so accustomed to seeing on the covers of People et al, attached to the babes of Tinseltown, that we assume that their popularity has instantly spread beyond the confines of Malibu and Calabasas. But it ain’t necessarily so. There are several appellations worn by more than one starbaby that have yet to hit the current Top 1000 list—though this could change with the new rankings coming next month! Some of these names did have some nineteenth or twentieth century success, others have never entered the list at all.

Clementine—This vintage choice has been both a Hollywood and a Nameberry fave, picked by Claudia Schiffer, Ethan Hawke and Rachel Griffiths, while CybillShepherd chose it for her now-grown-actress daughter back in 1979. But it hasn’t been on the list for sixty years.

Clover—An up-and-coming botanical choice used, for one, by NatalieWood’s daughter Natasha in tribute to her mom’s iconic film Inside DaisyClover, it has never charted in the US.

Hartley—Joining Harley, Harper and Harlow in the Starbaby Club is newcomer Hartley—given to one boy and one girl child in the past couple of years. It did appear two times on the boy’s list at the turn of the last century, but not since.

Hero—This Greek mythological and Shakespearean girl’s name has been used for one starbaby’s first name and for another’s middle—despite the possibility of gender confusion. Still a long-shot for more general popularity.

Mabel—Following in the footsteps of sister Sadie, saucy Mabel was a Top 20 name in the 1880s and 1890s, but has been off the charts for almost half a century. But enough celebs—including ChadLowe, NenahCherry, BruceWillis and Dermot Mulroney—have chosen it that this could soon change.

Marlowe—The idea of using this English surname for a girl got its start in the celebrisphere with its use by both SiennaMiller and Jason Schwartzman. It may not be long till Marlowe hits the charts, along with the revived Marlo.

Maxwell—Yes, Maxwell is Number 116 on the boys’ list, but wait—we’re talking about girls here. After being chosen for their daughters by high-profile JessicaSimpson and then by LindsaySloane, we fully expect her to show up on the pink side before long.

Poppy—With no fewer than four starbabies named Poppy—the latest being the daughter of Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer—Poppy feels like a sure bet to pop onto the list. She’s already Number 14 in England and Wales.

Bear—Two Bear cubs have brought a lot of attention to this big, burly animal name—the alliterative Alicia Silverstone’s BearBlu and KateWinslet’s BearBlaze. But do we expect it to catch on big-time? Not so much.

Caspar—This ancient name of one of the Three Magi was chosen by Claudia Schiffer and by Atomic Kitten JennyFrost, while iconoclastic namer (remember Pilot Inspektor?) JasonLee called his daughter Casper. That was the spelling (for boys) that was quite popular at the end of the 19th century, while Caspar has never ranked.

Dashiell—When SamuelHammett chose to write his detective stories using his middle (and mother’s maiden) name Dashiell, he couldn’t have foreseen that his name would be hot in Hollywood more than a century later, chosen by such celebs as Cate Blanchett, JasonPriestley, Autumn Reeser, author HelenFielding, and movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. Number 44 on Nameberry, but nowhere in the Top 1000.

Magnus—This royal Scandinavian name has emigrated big-time into the US celebrisphere, used by WillFarrell and his Swedish wife, Kirsty Swanson, and ElizabethBanks. But though it’s a Top 6 name in Denmark and Norway, and Number 129 on Nameberry, Magnus is nowhere to be found on the US list.

Shepherd—Chosen by the Jerry Seinfelds and Jared Padalecki for their sons, and as a middle (but used as a first) by ZacHanson, Shepherd and nickname Shep both were Top 1000 one-hit wonders—in the 1880s.

Story—Most word names haven’t yet spread to much of the civilian population, but nouns like this have appealed to some celebs—Jenna Elfman used it for her son and MinnieDriver made it her Henry’s middle.

Thatcher—Thatcher is one of hottest of the new occupational surname names, picked by both celebrity chef CatCora and actress MegynKelly for their boys. This is one we’re expecting to pop onto the popularity list soon: it’s currently 249 on Nameberry.